Phumla Williams: I’m relieved I told my story

The acting director-general at Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Phumla Williams says she is at ease after spilling the beans at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry, about the suffering she endured under her former boss Faith Muthambi.

She says the abuse she endured from Muthambi got to a point where she felt helpless.

“It affected me healthwise and I was dealing with something bigger than me. Frankly I am not sure I would have spoken about this anywhere else than the commission,” says Williams. “This commission allowed me an opportunity to tell my story.”

Williams made startling allegations of “torture” at the hands of Muthambi, who was communications minister at the time. In an emotional account Williams revealed that Muthambi abused her verbally and emotionally – and she relied on colleagues and medication to remain sane.

She also accused Muthambi of demoting her and taking away her power at the GCIS so that looting could take place at the company. She said Muthambi made her relive the trauma of when she was tortured as an ANC activist during apartheid.

She told the inquiry how Muthambi stripped her of 72% of her responsibilities in 2016.

Muthambi demoted Williams in 2016 from acting director-general to deputy director-general and forced her to pay back R30 000 of her salary.